Two Wins Out Of Two For Women’s Team

The Ireland Women’s team kept up their winning record in this year’s RBS Women’s 6 Nations Championship as they came from 12-8 behind to hand Italy a 35-17 defeat at Stadio Natali in Colleferro. Tries in the final quarter from half-backs Tania Rosser and Niamh Briggs and replacement winger Grace Davitt boosted Ireland’s winning margin.

2009 RBS WOMEN’S 6 NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, February 14

ITALY WOMEN 17 IRELAND WOMEN 35, Stadio Natali, Colleferro

Scorers: Italy Women: Tries: Michela Este, Elisa Cucchiella, Paola Zangirolami; Con: Veronica Schiavon

Ireland Women: Tries: Amy Davis, Fiona Coghlan, Tania Rosser, Niamh Briggs, Grace Davitt; Cons: Niamh Briggs 2; Pens: Niamh Briggs 2

Ireland scored their biggest points tally in RBS Women’s 6 Nations history, beating their previous best of 25 against Spain in 2006, as Steven Hennessy’s side made it two wins on the bounce.

19-0 winners in the corresponding fixture last year, the Irish girls travelled to Rome with confidence following last weekend’s first ever victory over France.

Out-half Niamh Briggs fired them in front, courtesy of an 18th-minute penalty kick. The Irish forwards held the edge up front and impressed off restarts, with great organisation and structure to their game.

But Italy were defensively sound and they frustrated the visitors for stretches of the first half, Italy struck for the game’s opening try, on the half hour, when hooker Michela Este crashed over the line.

The conversion was missed and Ireland managed to respond just before half-time when a fast-paced move ended with winger Amy Davis sliding over in the left corner despite the best efforts of Valentina Schiavon.

Briggs missed the conversion, leaving it 8-5 in Ireland’s favour.

By their high standards, the Irish side made a poor start to the second half and they allowed Italian prop Elisa Cucchiella pierce the defensive line and she had the momentum to cross the whitewash for a 44th-minute try.

Veronica Schiavon added the extras for a sudden 12-8 lead for the hosts, but Ireland did not wilt under the pressure and they quickly regrouped and drew a penalty, four minutes later, which Briggs dispatched to close the gap to a single point.

Ireland upped the ante on 54 minutes when prop Fiona Coghlan showed great power and pace to leave the Italian cover for dead inside the 22 and score her second try of the Championship.

Briggs’ conversion moved Ireland 18-12 ahead but just four minutes later, the Irish defence was disappointingly breached again when a deft pass from Cucchiella set up a run-in for Italian captain Paola Zangirolami.

The try, which went unconverted, was conceded while Ireland were down to 14 players. Centre Helen Brosnan was sin-binned for slowing up Italian ruck ball and at 18-17, the match was still delicately poised.

But Ireland really showed their killer instinct in the closing 20 minutes. They scored three tries in the space of a quarter-of-an-hour to destroy the hosts’ chances of a shock win.

First, experienced number 9 Tania Rosser scampered over after a series of quick rucks. The win was effectively sealed when Briggs swooped through a hole in the Italian midfield and touched down by the posts, kicking the conversion herself for 30-17.

And with Italian out-half Silvia Peron in the sin-bin for the closing minutes, replacement winger Grace Davitt rounded off a five-try triumph with a backs-inspired score.

The girls in green are next in action on Friday, February 27 when they take on the reigning RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam champions England at St. Mary’s College RFC’s Templeville Road ground.

Kick-off for this crucial third game is 6.30pm, so make sure you get out to support Ireland as they put their unbeaten record in the 2009 tournament on the line.

TIME LINE: 18 minutes – Ireland penalty: Niamh Briggs – 0-3; 31 mins – Italy try: Michela Este – 5-3; conversion; missed by Veronica Schiavon – 5-3; 39 mins – Ireland try: Amy Davis – 5-8; conversion: missed by Niamh Briggs – 5-8; Half-time – Italy 5 Ireland 8; 44 mins – Elisa Cucchiella – 10-8; conversion: Veronica Schiavon – 12-8; 48 mins – Ireland penalty: Niamh Briggs – 12-11; 54 mins – Ireland try: Fiona Coghlan – 12-16; conversion: Niamh Briggs – 12-18; 56 mins – Ireland yellow card: Helen Brosnan; 58 mins – Italy try: Paola Zangirolami – 17-18; conversion: missed by Veronica Schiavon – 17-18; 61 mins – Ireland try: Tania Rosser – 17-23; conversion: missed by Niamh Briggs – 17-23; 66 mins – Ireland try: Niamh Briggs – 17-28; conversion: Niamh Briggs – 17-30; 66 mins – Italy yellow card: Silvia Peron; 76 mins – Ireland try: Grace Davitt – 17-35; conversion: missed by Niamh Briggs – 17-35; Full-time – Italy 17 Ireland 35

ITALY WOMEN: Manuela Furlan; Valentina Schiavon, Paola Zangirolami (capt), Giovanna Bado, Sara Barattin; Silvia Peron, Veronica Schiavon; Elisa Cucchiella, Michela Este, Licia Stefan, Sara Pettinelli, Martina Barbini, Cristina Molic, Giuliana Campanella, Silvia Gaudino.

Replacements used: Maria Diletta Veronese for Barattin, Gaia Costa for Campanella (both 77 mins). Not used: Barbara Franchin, Maria Beatrice, Daniela Gini, Cecilia Zublena, Federico Renosto.

IRELAND WOMEN: Joanne O’Sullivan (Richmond/Ulster); Jeannette Feighery (UL Bohemians/Munster), Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians/Munster), Helen Brosnan (Highfield/Munster), Amy Davis (Blackrock/Ulster); Niamh Briggs (Clonmel/Munster), Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster); Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster), Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock/Leinster), Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians/Leinster), Orla Brennan (Blackrock/Leinster), Louise Austin (Blackrock/Leinster), Sinead Ryan (Blackrock/Leinster), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt).

Replacements used: Grace Davitt (Blackrock/Leinster) for Davis (70 mins), Jess Limbert (Cooke/Ulster) for Nolan (71), Kate O’Loughlin (Clonmel/Munster) for Mahon (33). Not used: Emer McManamly (Blackrock/Leinster), Clare Molloy (Cardiff Harlequins/Connacht), Louise Beamish (UL Bohemians/Munster), Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster).

Referee: Lavin (France)